The Hand of Tax

A good way to help explain an overview of taxes is to look at the five fingers of your hand. There is an “Income Tax” when you earn the money. There is a “Sales Tax” when you purchase an item. There is a “Property Tax” when you purchase some things and hold it. There is... [Read More]

It’s the People, not the Stuff

Love people and use things.  Not the other way around.  Our relationships are the high points of our lives.  That may include our faith relationship. Those relationships are the most precious gifts that we receive.  Our sweetest memories we have maybe of our children’s laughter, our friend’s understanding or looking into the eyes of someone who... [Read More]

Home, Sweet Home!

After spending a few days in the Northeast where it was roughly 20 degrees colder, home prices and taxes are at least two times more expensive and there are way more people & more lines I am so much more appreciative of little old Western North Carolina.  There are good and helpful people wherever you go, but... [Read More]

Strange Days…

Russia invades Ukraine, a giant jet disappears and Spring never comes to the mountains. Strange things happen that we never anticipate happening. Natural events like unending winters, dangerously aggressive acts by world powers such as invading a neighboring country, and whatever strange events are happening in your own life. We need to be flexible and... [Read More]

The Tax Man Cometh

Again this President seeks to penalize those who have been successful financially. The new proposal from the White House seeks to limit annual gifting to $50,000.00 dollars total per year.  Instead of limiting it per individual they’re seeking to limit it to a total of $50,000.00 dollars in the year beginning in 2015. That may... [Read More]

Shirley Temple and Phillip Seymour Hoffman Go Home

We’ve recently seen the passing of Shirley Temple Black the iconic child actress and later Ambassador and the Oscar winning Actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Ms. Temple Black passed away at age 85. Actor Hoffman left at the early age of 47. One passed on after a long full life, the other unexpectedly by accidental drug... [Read More]

More Mall Shootings Show the Uncertainty of Life

An eighteen year old young man opened fire in a busy Mall in Maryland this past Saturday. Two people were killed before he turned the gun on himself. An hour before the people that were killed in the Mall on Saturday had no idea that their lives were about to end. Hopefully they left their... [Read More]

Traveling South

Many people travel south during this time of year. They’re often called “snow birds”. They may be going for a short trip or a few months. It may be to head to warmer climates. Anytime you are traveling out of your home state you want to make sure that your Healthcare legal documents work outside... [Read More]

Cold Enough to Kill!

The current weather in the Eastern part of the United States is “Is Cold Enough to Kill!” If you are out in this weather for any extended period of time you could easily suffer from hypothermia or frostbite which could lead to death due to exposure. Not only do you have to dress warmly if... [Read More]

New Year’s Resolutions!

We make New Year’s Resolutions to commit to improving our lives by taking on some needed task or change in our lives. It is often health related or money related. Both radically affect our lives. Maybe now is the time to take care of that needed planning for paying off our debt, planning for retirement... [Read More]